Gangwon Province Expands Designation of Six Rural Vitality Promotion Districts Including Hongcheon and Gangneung After Removal of 10,000-Pyeong Minimum Requirement

Gangwon Province to Newly Designate Six Rural Vitality Promotion Districts
Now Includes Industrial Facilities... Third Round of Rural Vitality Promotion Districts
Designations for Hongcheon Yeongguimi-myeon and Gangneung Yusandong Now Possible
If Approved, 15 Districts Across 10 Cities and Counties to Be Designated, Covering About 490,000 Pyeong

On November 24, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Governor Kim Jin-tae) newly designated six sites as Rural Vitality Promotion Districts for the first time since removing the minimum area requirement of 10,000 pyeong (33,000 square meters), a core regulation that had previously limited rural development. Through this review, a total of 138,000 pyeong will be newly designated as Rural Vitality Promotion Districts, marking the third round of designations since the enforcement of the Gangwon Special Act.

Plan for Designation of Rural Vitality Promotion District. Provided by Gangwon Province

On this day, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, presided over by Governor Kim Jin-tae, held the 2nd Comprehensive Plan Review Committee for Future Industry and Global City, where the designation of six Rural Vitality Promotion Districts across five cities and counties-Gangneung, Samcheok, Hongcheon, Yeongwol, and Jeongseon-was discussed.

The Rural Vitality Promotion District system is a core special provision of the Gangwon Special Act, allowing the governor to directly lift development restrictions in agricultural promotion areas to support local development and encourage private investment. This system is operated on a temporary three-year basis, with a maximum of 12 million pyeong eligible for designation.

The six sites newly designated this time comprise a total development area of 58 hectares, of which 46 hectares, or 79%, are classified as agricultural promotion areas. The six new districts are: Gangneung Yusandong Agricultural Product Storage Base, Samcheok Miro-myeon Well-Life Sports Facility, Hongcheon Seomyeon Palbongsan Tourism Site Expansion, Hongcheon Yeongguimi-myeon Rural Living Environment Improvement, Yeongwol Sansol-myeon Advanced Core Materials Complex, and Jeongseon Imgae-myeon Local Food Complex Cultural Facility. The total development area is 58 hectares, with agricultural promotion areas accounting for 46 hectares, or 79%.

In particular, the removal of the minimum area requirement of 10,000 pyeong in July has given the green light for rural vitality development projects in two districts: Gangneung Yusandong Agricultural Product Storage Base and Hongcheon Yeongguimi Nonghyup Agricultural Product Store.

Governor Kim Jin-tae stated, "If today's agenda passes in the third review for Rural Vitality Promotion District designation, a total of 15 sites across 10 cities and counties will be designated." He added, "Although this is only about 4% of the 12 million pyeong cap, the ceiling is set comprehensively, so there is no obligation to use the entire quota within three years."

Rural Vitality Promotion District Lifted. Provided by Gangwon Province

He also noted, "With the removal of the 10,000 pyeong minimum requirement, it is now possible to promote designations for Hongcheon Yeongguimi-myeon and Gangneung Yusandong. Previously, the focus was on agriculture, tourism, and sports facilities, but now industrial facilities can also be included." He concluded, "I hope this review proceeds smoothly so that the projects can move forward without issues."

Meanwhile, the province is accepting applications for the first round of Rural Vitality Promotion District designations for 2026 (the fourth cumulative round) from November 3 to December 31. The relevant provincial departments plan to enhance the quality of district designations by providing preliminary consulting support for discovering new sites in each city and county and for establishing district development plans.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.